Sexist media and Palin?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2005
Sexist media and Palin?
12
Wed, 09-03-2008 - 8:03pm

I wonder who thinks the media coverage of Palin is fair.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2007
Wed, 09-03-2008 - 8:23pm

A: I agree with you wholeheartedly and everytime I question anything about her not related to her record, I ask myself if I am doing so based on gender.


B: I think we are still getting our sea legs with this pick.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2008
Wed, 09-03-2008 - 9:15pm
I am very offended by what "news" people say about her.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2008
Wed, 09-03-2008 - 9:37pm

Or is the media too beholden to Obama that they will try (let them try) to drag her down:


iVillage Member
Registered: 02-22-2008
Wed, 09-03-2008 - 9:39pm
I don't think it's to Palin exclusively but women in general.

boardsiggy

                      

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2006
Wed, 09-03-2008 - 9:59pm

I still haven't made up my mind. I've gotta tell you that I'm just not incredibly excited about either of the candidates for *PRESIDENT* of the US. I'm not giving Palin any more thought than Biden, simply because they are #2. I would be curious to see what an actuary would say about Palin being closer to the Presidency than Biden. Is age more aggressive than extreme racism?



With all of that said, I think Sarah Palin is probably facing similar scrutiny in the sexist manner that Obama received in the racist manner. Except this: It is very relevant to the office of POTUS if Barack Obama holds racist/extreme views like his former minister. Those sort of views would be extremely detrimental to our nation, as well as our international relationships. (And, for the record, I really don't think he agrees with his former minister's views.) By contrast, it is not relevant to the office of VPOTUS if Sarah Palin has one, five, or twenty children. It is also not relevant to the office of VPOTUS if Sarah Palin has a daughter who made a choice that carries a very stringent consequence.



It is frustrating to me that people are worried that Sarah Palin will not be able to be a good mother while holding the office of Vice President, but no one has questioned whether Barack Obama will be able to be a good father while holding the office of President. It's not frustrating because it demeans Sarah Palin. It is frustrating, because it demeans the role of the father in the home. A father is equally important to the family unit, and Barack Obama has two young children who will be accompanying him to DC, should he win. Why isn't anyone questioning that?



Like I said, my mind is not made up, and I'm really not even giving a whole lot of thought to Sarah Palin, as I'm focusing on the #1 slot. However, some of the concerns that the media is voicing about Sarah Palin are the same concerns I have felt about Barack Obama...they just haven't been voiced about him in the media. I'm not incredibly excited about any of the four candidates having young children in the home. Since both parties now have that as a part of their ticket, it has definitely made me take a closer look at things.




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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2008
Wed, 09-03-2008 - 10:09pm

Thank you what a wonderful post that has been what has been frustrating me these last few days.


Exactly and why is the media comparing Pallin v Obama, and please don't give me the McCain may die, we all will and his mother is 90 something.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2008
Thu, 09-04-2008 - 1:57am

>>we all will and his mother is 90 something<<


And his father died at agge 70 of a heart attack.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2005
Thu, 09-04-2008 - 2:22am

So sick and tired of hearing all this talk about how the media and Obama are being sexist toward Palin.....all the while the GOP at their own convention are the ones parading around sporting buttons that say "Hottest VP from the coolest state" with a pic of Palin on the button....can't get more sexist than that.


Avatar for thefalliblefiend
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Thu, 09-04-2008 - 9:49am

I don't watch the regular news and very seldom visit political sites or discuss politics, so I don't know how the coverage has been. However, if they're harping on these issues, yes, they're being sexist. We don't know (or at least *I*) don't know what Palin's personal situation is. I suspect she has the bases covered in one way or another. Certainly, if her ticket wins, the children will be taken care of.

People naturally assume that women are the nurturers and men are the bread-winners. My wife and I make nearly the same money (I make about 12% more with almost the same degree). At home, she does almost all of the repair work, mows the lawn, takes out the garbage, manages the money. I look after the kids, talk to them, help with homework, plan menus within a budget, shop, make dinner for them, do the dishes, drive them to school. She is pretty good at managing money, keeping track of details, overseeing the household - but she is among the least 'nurturing' people I've ever encountered. It's just not in her. The job has fallen to me and frankly I'm pretty good at it. (No one is more surprised by the discovery than I.) I don't know what Palin's situation is - maybe she hires help, maybe her husband is care-giver, maybe she has live-in relatives, or close friends. The only evidence we have that she might be having trouble balancing things is her pregnant 17 yo, which is serious, but not sufficient to make pronouncements about her parenting. (It does make me want to know a lot more about her policies though.) Publicly at least, she seems to be handling it gracefully and I'm happy to let her take care of her own business.

But, yes, if the media are not letting up on her about her being a mom, then yes they are being sexist.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2003
Thu, 09-04-2008 - 10:28am

excuse me but ... this is not a new issue with Palin.

in fact, Republicans have raised the sexist bashing of Hillary Clinton to an art form.

i think the questions are reasonable - not because she has children but because (1) she has a baby - not child but 5 month - with special needs AND (2) a teenager going through a pregnancy. If a man in that situation were my co-worker, he would have all my sympathy and i would understand why he is distracted and maybe needs sometime off. i would not understand why he took a new position that will require him to travel everyday of the week and work 24/7 when he is home.

i think Risman is right: Clinton was touted as a candidate who happened to be a female with national experience but Palin has been portrayed as a candidate who happens to be a mother. she calls herself a Hockey Mom and member of the PTA. If the Republicans don't want the rest of us to comment on her motherhood, then stop making a big deal out of it - don't make that the focus of the story. If the Republicans don't want the rest of us to comment on her looks, then stop making a big deal out of her beauty pageant win. Show me instead that she understands and sympathizes with issues that matter to women - which i don't think she has prioritized over oil drilling and evangelical agendas.

"Wow, I guess that speaks volumes about how divided we really all are in this country." That wasn't news to me.

Bea




Edited 9/4/2008 10:32 am ET by queenbea4

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